Notre Dame guard Marcus Hammond set to return vs. Syracuse

Notre Dame hoops is getting a massive boost heading into their conference play opener against Syracuse. According to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Niagara transfer Marcus Hammond will suit up and make his debut for the Fighting Irish today against the Orange. Here was his early-morning tweet with that news:

“Notre Dame’s Marcus Hammond (knee) will be available for today’s game against Syracuse, per Mike Brey. Hammond — who averaged 18.1 PPG last season at Niagara — has yet to play this season.”

A huge development for Brey’s squad. And one the other ND players are thrilled about, since the Irish have basically played with six players to start the year. With Hammond back in the fold, his presence will relieve some playing time and ball-handling duties from the other rotation players.

Brey also commented on Hammond yesterday, expressing how excited he was to get the transfer into the mix.

Mike Brey on getting Marcus Hammond back

Brey spoke the other day about Hammond’s eventual return, to which the ND coach said his players desperately want the Niagara transfer on the floor.

“Oh yeah, no no, I think they want him back, man,” said Brey this week, singing Hammond’s praises as a player. “I mean, you know, he was efficiency, point-wise, through 25 practices. He was leading us, not Nate Laszewski, not Dane Goodwin, not Cormac Ryan. He had more points than anybody.”

More importantly, Hammond provides an extra body to relieve the other six.

“And, you know, he gives you another guy that can go and he can score and can shoot it. I think, as I watched this this summer, I said five old guys and the two young guys, if we can keep that seven moving I think we got a chance. And so, we’re getting close to getting those seven together.”

The seven Mike Brey is referring to? Well, Hammond, obviously, along with Laszewski, Goodwin and Ryan who he mentioned. The two freshmen would be five-star guard JJ Starling and four-star big man Ven-Allen Lubin. Lastly, Trey Wertz is the other wing in the mix for the Irish.

If Hammond rejoins and provides even a handful of minutes in relief of the others, Notre Dame may really be able to hit the pavement running in ACC play now that they have a signature win to hang their hat on with having beat Michigan State earlier this week.

It’s all four-leaf clovers in South Bend right now.